Content about bay area intactivists

Conte accomplished many things during his life. First and foremost, he was the lead organizer of Bay Area Intactivists. Conte was instrumental in the 2011 San Francisco MGM Bill initiative to extend the female genital mutilation law to protect children of all sexes. He also spurred me on to become more active and start the NYC Intactivists group. Conte and I kept in touch frequently and shared strategies and had ongoing projects together at the time of his death.

It is with deep sadness that I write this. Last Monday, May 9, I lost a dear friend and fellow activist, Jonathon Conte.

For those who knew him personally, he was a bright and friendly person. But on the inside, he was tormented by many things, and circumcision was near or at the top of this list of grievances.

“That’s my favorite sign because I did not consent to male genital mutilation,” says Frank McGinness, the man who appears on the right side of the photo holding a sign. “I was circumcised at 4 or 5 years old. If someone chooses it for themselves, I don’t have a problem with that. But I had no choice and a very important part of my genitals was taken from me without my consent.”